| Place | Europe: United Kingdom, England, Greater London, London |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART40954 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 15.2 x 13.1 x 9.3cm |
| Object type | Sculpture |
| Physical description | paper, watercolour, pen and ink, cotton wool |
| Maker |
Blaiberg, Gladys |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | c. 1917-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Unlicensed copyright |
Digger's salute
Description
The artist captures the Australian soldier's characteristic irreverance for rank and authority in this paper statue of an Australian soldier and a British officer. Despite passing the officer, the soldier's hands remain firmly in his pockets. This, the artist suggests, is the "digger's salute" - laconic disdain for rank and authority. Gladys Blaiberg didn't work at the Australian Forces canteen until 1917. While it's likely she still encountered Australian servicemen before that time, it is likely she didn't start to produce caricatures of them until being amongst them more regularaly. In 1917 the Adelphi Theatre in London was taken over by the Australian High Commission. Whilst working there Blaiberg made the small scale sculptures of the Australian soldiers during the First World War.